Friday, 6 June 2008

Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Singapore / conventional short form: Singapore / local long form: Republic of Singapore / local short form: SingaporeGovernment type: parliamentary republicCapital: name: Singapore / geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E / time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)Administrative divisions: noneIndependence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)Constitution: 3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage: 21 years of age; universal and compulsoryExecutive branch: chief of state: President S R NATHAN (since 1 September 1999); note: uses S R NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN / head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004); Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers Shunmugam JAYAKUMAR (since 12 August 2004) and WONG Kan Seng (since 1 September 2005) / cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament / elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; appointed on 17 August 2005 (next election to be held by August 2011); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president / election results: Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN appointed president in August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified three other would-be candidates; scheduled election not heldLegislative branch: unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency" members / elections: last held on 6 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011) / election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%, SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1Judicial branch: Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of AppealsPolitical parties and leaders: People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee Lian]; note: SDA includes Singapore Justice Party or SJP, Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS, Singapore People's Party or SPPPolitical pressure groups and leaders: NAInternational organization participation: ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee / chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 / telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100 / FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876 / consulate(s) general: San Francisco / consulate(s): New YorkDiplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia L. HERBOLD / embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 / mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001 / telephone: [65] 6476-9100 / FAX: [65] 6476-9340

The National Flag

The national flag is Singapore's most visible symbol of statehood, symbolising our sovereignty, pride and honour. It reflects the ideals, beliefs and values that we stand by as a nation amidst our rich and diverse make-up. It forms a crucial element of our national identity. As such, the national flag is to be treated with dignity and honour.Its Origin: The national flag was unveiled on 3 December 1959, together with the state crest and the national anthem, at the installation of the new Head of State, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara. It was created by a Committee led by then Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Toh Chin Chye. It replaced the Union Jack, which had flown over Singapore for 140 years (1819-1959). Upon Singapore's independence in 1965, it was adopted as Singapore's national flag.

Its Meaning: The flag consists of two equal horizontal sections, red above white. In the upper left section are a white crescent moon, and five white stars forming a circle. Each feature of the flag has its own distinctive meaning and significance. Red symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of man. White signifies pervading and everlasting purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the ascendant. The five stars stand for the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

Military branches: Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2008) / Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 for enlisted or age 50 for officers (2007)Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 1,277,862 (2008 est.)Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 1,038,603 (2008 est.)Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 4.9% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007, the ICJ will hold public hearings as a consequence of the Memorials and Countermemorials filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca StraitIllicit drugs: drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering.